Jack Jablonski, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s hockey player who was paralyzed in a game in 2011, raised hope in his recovery Monday when he posted a video showing him ever so slightly moving his toes on command.

Though he has previously reported feelings of pain or other sensations in the lower portion of his body, Monday’s post showed video evidence of movement in his toes. Jablonski said in an interview that therapists were able to feel him activate muscles such as hip flexors and glutes during an assessment in May, but “the toes moving is obvious.”

Jablonski, now 22, said the video was taken while he was on his family’s deck in Minneapolis on the Fourth of July. He tries to move his toes periodically, he said. His left foot didn’t move, but then:

“The right three toes were twitching on command as I was trying to flex them,” he said.

He called the movement “surreal” and said it’s great to see his hard work paying off.

Jablonski has continued physical therapy since his injury, keeping his muscles strong.

The tweeted progress is an indication that his spinal cord injury might not be complete, as doctors once thought, he said. That also gives him more optimism that someday he can benefit from epidural stimulation. Still in the study phase, the treatment involves implanting stimulators on spines and giving some paralyzed patients new function.

He is a senior at the University of Southern California majoring in communications with a minor in sports media. He interns for the L.A. Kings hockey team doing a podcast.

Pam Louwagie is a regional reporter for the Star Tribune. She previously covered courts and legal affairs and was on the newspaper's investigative team. She now writes frequently about a variety of topics in northeast Minnesota and around the state and region.

Led by freshman Gabe Kalscheur, 10th-seeded Minnesota broke open the game with 11 three-pointers, knocking off No. 7-seeded Louisville. Next up is the winner of the Michigan State-Bradley game on Saturday.

Minnesota won its first NCAA Tournament game in six years behind 24 points from freshman Gale Kalscheur as the 10th-seeded Gophers rolled past Louisville 86-76 in the opening round of the East Region on Thursday.